Shame Of The Turks And Caicos

THE FLOW OF DRUGS from South America has many stopping points in the Caribbean Sea. Among them are the Turks and Caicos Islands, a self-governing British possession just southeast of the Bahamas.

It has long been suspected that drug smugglers could not find safety in many parts of the Caribbean without the cooperation of government officials. Recently, a federal jury of 12 men and women agreed that was, indeed, the case in the Turks and Caicos.

Former Chief Minister Norman Saunders, once the dependency`s top elected officials, and former Minister of Commerce Stafford Missick were convicted of conspiring to further a drug-smuggling operation and traveling between two countries for illegal purposes.

And while both men maintain their innocence, their testimony is reminiscent of the excuses offered by some United States politicians caught taking payoffs to protect illegal activities.

Saunders said he had no intention of keeping $50,000 given him by a convicted drug smuggler and government informant in exchange for safe harbor in a cocaine smuggling operation. Instead, Saunders said he was stringing the informant along, hoping he would make a legitimate investment in the country. Missick said he was conducting his own investigation.

When an official of any nation conspires to aid the drug trade, it is an especially tragic deed. Saunders and Missick made a mockery of the laws of their homeland and betrayed the interests of an ally.

But, more tragically, they attempted to make a profit from the human suffering caused by cocaine and they should face a stiff penalty for their crimes.